Emirates Refuses to Use Air Bridges in Pakistan After Last Month’s Incident

Emirates Airlines has refused to use the air bridges at airports in Pakistan after one collapsed at the new International Airport last month.

Chief Executive Officer of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Air Marshall Arshad Malik, apprised the Senate Standing Committee on Aviation that Emirates has announced to stop using air bridges at airports in Pakistan for not aligning with their safety standards.

The CEO made the revelation in a meeting held to brief about the air bridge collapse along with the details of how it was built, its model and purchase, and so on.

Notably, the air bridge under question collapsed on October 9, causing two staff members to get injured. It was acquired from the Spanish company Adelte.

Director General of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) Hassan Baig told the committee that an investigation into the matter was underway. A report in this regard would be presented by December 7th.

“We are looking into several possible reasons such as design faults, human error, maintenance problems, as well as communication errors. It can be all four. But, so far it seems to be a design flaw,” he said.

Baig told that they have found the same faults with the air bridges at Karachi Airport and Bacha Khan International Airport in Peshawar. He further informed the committee that the fault appeared to be in the design of the bridge, probably a loose pin.

The official said that they have suspended the remaining payments to Adelte. Under the contract, CAA can demand an extension in the warranty period of the air bridge.